Elk Sightings Reported in Tennessee Following Reintroduction

Photo byTennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

KNOXVILLE, TN - The Elk Viewing Tower on Hatfield Knob in the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) has been reconstructed and was dedicated last year in honor of Terry and Jane Lewis, a local couple deeply committed to Tennessee's elk herd.

According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Lewises have played a significant role in both the original tower's construction in 2005 and the new, handicap-accessible tower that now stands in its place.

"It's been a long journey," Terry Lewis said during the tower's opening ceremony.

"We certainly want to thank all of the volunteers that helped put this tower together and this viewing area for all the people to come and see. One of our efforts was to create a high probability of viewing opportunities, and I think you have it right here."

According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Elk Viewing Tower has become a popular attraction in Campbell County, where 48 percent of the land is public property.

Around 16,000 people visit the tower annually, with thousands more enjoying the live elk camera operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) at the site.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has also been a key partner in Tennessee's elk restoration efforts, which began in 2000 with the release of the first elk onto Horsebone Ridge, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

To date, 201 elk have been released in the NCWMA, making the viewing tower a prime location for observing these majestic animals.